Out of Bounds Festival 2019: Exciting World Cup decisions this coming weekend in Saalfelden Leogang

Also on board: the stars of the scene, spectacular mountain bike action and an ingenious supporting programme. 

The package of action-packed sport and exciting side events makes the World Cup in Pinzgau one of the most popular in the scene. Once again this year, more than 23,000 fans are expected to attend the World Cup dress rehearsal from 7 to 9 June. In sporting terms, the third of eight stops in the season has everything you need for an exciting race: The 2.5-kilometre track, which will also be the focus of the 2020 World Championships, does not forgive any mistakes. Any uncertainty on the "high-speed track" of the World Cup circuit is immediately reflected in the time. 

Two World Cup stops have already been on the programme this season: the season opener in Maribor was won by reigning world champion Loic Bruni and Briton Tahnee Seagrave. The latter had to bury her hopes of victory in Leogang at the second stop of the season last weekend in Fort William after a heavy crash in training. The young Brit will therefore be missing in Leogang due to injury, but another British Leogang talent will be travelling to Saalfelden Leogang as a recent World Cup winner from Fort William - Rachel Atherton has already won three times in Pinzgau, most recently last year, and is considered the big favourite to win the Austrian World Cup after her compatriot's retirement. However, the women's field is extremely strong with other fast riders such as Tracey Hannah (AUS), Marine Cabirou (FRA), Monika Hrastnik (SLO) and the German Nina Hoffmann.

The power density on the men's side is also currently higher than ever. A Leogang title defender is also coming back with a lot of self-confidence after winning in Fort William: Amaury Pierron is not only the reigning Leogang champion but also the winner of the 2018 overall standings.

In addition to the strong French line-up around the current world champion Bruni, the overall World Cup winner Pierron and the young Loris Vergier, four-time Leogang winner Aaron Gwin is once again one of the hottest favourites. However, other riders, such as former champion Greg Minnaar (RSA), Troy Brosnan (AUS), Mark Wallace (CAN), Danny Hart (GBR), Brook MacDonald and Laurie Greenland (GBR) are also lurking for victory in Austria. 

Austrian riders in good form

Local fans can look forward in particular to the Austrian aces, such as David Trummer, Andreas Kolb and of course Valentina Höll from Saalbach. The latter dominated the junior field last year with victories at all World Cups and the World Championships and also started the season with a World Cup victory in Maribor. She did so with a time that would also have earned her a top 10 result in the elite women's event.

However, the incredible winning streak came to an end in Fort William last weekend in the very last race before the home World Cup: "Every streak comes to an end, it was only a matter of time. To be honest, I'm even a bit happy about it mentally, because it had to happen at some point. I had a stupid crash and I'm happy for Anna Newkirk, because Anna deserves her first World Cup win," said Höll.

After his good results in Maribor (15th) and Fort William (14th) and of course the bronze medal at the European Downhill Championships in Portugal, Styrian David Trummer should be travelling to his home World Cup in Leogang with a good dose of self-confidence. A total of nine Austrians will be competing in Leogang. 

In addition to the Mercedes-Benz UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup, Saalfelden Leogang also has an impressive supporting programme in store as part of the Out of Bounds Festival: Several spectacular freestyle motocross shows, a big open-air concert with the Californian band "John Diva & the Rockets of Love", an Open Night in the Team & Expo Area, various parties and much more.

Tickets and further information about the Out of Bounds Festival 2019 are available at www.mtb-weltcup.at/en